Mo Li

After sending Prince De and Prince Yu back to the guest courtyard to rest, Ye Li emerged from the rear, supported by her maid, and remarked with a faint smile, "Prince De seems quite different after just one night apart."

Mo Xiuyao rose to assist her, waving the maid away. "He’s a cunning old fox who managed to escape unscathed from the late emperor’s reign and live peacefully all these years. It’s just that he’s grown a bit too complacent lately. Does he truly believe that managing the trivial affairs of the imperial clan and being addressed as ‘Imperial Uncle’ by Mo Jingqi means he’s genuinely respected as such?" Little did Prince De know that Mo Jingqi despised nothing more than the old ministers and elders who sought to suppress him. Given the slightest opportunity, Mo Jingqi would eliminate them without needing any provocation.

"Now that he’s come to me with lofty words of righteousness and persuasion, even if I don’t humor him, I’ll at least have to ensure they return safely to the Chu capital."

Settling down slowly, Ye Li recalled the two princes’ earlier demeanor. If they had come as Mo Jingqi’s envoys, their performance lacked conviction—merely reciting Mo Jingqi’s words halfheartedly and offering a few perfunctory admonitions to Mo Xiuyao. Clearly, neither wished to truly provoke him. Ye Li smiled faintly. "You were planning to let them return all along?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded slightly, sitting beside her. "Though these two won’t achieve anything significant, they’re more than capable of causing trouble for Mo Jingqi. For the next few months, I’d rather not deal with them." His gaze dropped to Ye Li’s rounded belly, and he reached out to caress it just as the baby kicked. Raising an eyebrow at the movement, he noticed Ye Li’s slight frown. "This little one is quite unruly. Once he’s born, he’ll need proper discipline."

Ye Li couldn’t help but laugh. Whether it was her imagination or not, the baby always seemed more active whenever Mo Xiuyao was near, especially when he touched her belly. "He’s just a fetus—what does he understand? My lord is becoming more childish by the day."

Mo Xiuyao’s sharp brows lifted, his mind already set on teaching the child a lesson once he was born.

A few days later, Prince De and Prince Yu bid farewell to Mo Xiuyao, preparing to return to the capital. However, Su Zhe had fallen gravely ill. When Prince Yu visited him, Su Zhe was already emaciated to the point of being skin and bones, lying unconscious. His condition was undeniably real—not only was he unfit to travel, but even a minor chill could prove fatal. Yet the two princes knew they couldn’t linger in the northwest. They had no choice but to take their leave, planning to report to the emperor and arrange for Su Zhe’s return once he recovered.

Mo Xiuyao made no effort to detain them. Accompanied by Mo Jian and the remaining half of their guards, the two princes departed the same day without further ado. Upon hearing this, Mo Xiuyao merely smiled faintly and dispatched Zhang Yu and Lyu Jinxian, the garrison commander of Ruyang, to escort them out of the city.In the dimly lit dungeon, Mo Xiuyao lounged lazily in his chair, eyeing the middle-aged man bound to a wooden post and covered in bloodstains. With a raised brow, he remarked mockingly, "Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards? The Emperor's trusted confidant and beloved general, Xue Chengliang? And... the Empress Dowager's cousin's son, the Emperor's cousin? Mo Jingqi must have really spared no expense, sending you all the way to the northwest?"

The man lifted his head, a flicker of fear flashing in his eyes as he took in the white-haired, white-robed figure before him, pristine as if untouched by the filth of the world. In the grimy darkness of the dungeon, that immaculate white only deepened the chill in his heart.

Mo Xiuyao paid no mind to his reaction, smiling faintly. "I heard Deputy Commander Xue is renowned as the top martial artist in the imperial court, second only to Mu Qingcang. To have been stuck in the lowly position of deputy commander all these years—what a waste of talent."

Xue Chengliang jerked his head up in shock. He had always kept a low profile in the capital, remaining an unremarkable deputy commander for years. He never expected Mo Xiuyao to have investigated him so thoroughly.

Leaning back in his chair, Mo Xiuyao gave him a sidelong glance. "Now that you've entered my Ruyang City, Deputy Commander, surely you don't still harbor illusions of leaving unscathed? This prince won't resort to torture—I doubt it would work on you anyway. So, will you speak voluntarily, or shall I find a way to make you?"

Xue Chengliang sneered. "Is Ruyang City yours, Prince? Every inch of land under heaven belongs to the Emperor. Do you really think occupying Ruyang makes it yours? Who would have thought the Ding Royal Palace would produce a generation of traitors! I wonder what face Mo Lanyun and Mo Liufang could possibly show the Founding Emperor and the late Emperor in the afterlife?"

Unfazed by his insults, Mo Xiuyao's gaze remained cold as snow. "I never took Deputy Commander Xue for such a loyal patriot. Truly admirable. Though I wonder—are your beloved and your newborn son equally devoted to the Emperor?"

Xue Chengliang stiffened, panic flickering in his eyes. Only now did he truly believe Mo Xiuyao had uncovered every detail of his life. Threats against his family might not have moved him—he was an illegitimate son of the Xue family, and the Xue matriarch was the Empress Dowager's younger sister. He had suffered bitterly since childhood and held no affection for the Xue household, including his wife.

But the woman Mo Xiuyao mentioned—his childhood sweetheart, the first love of his life—had stood by him through his hardest years. Now they even had a son together. He had planned to seek the Emperor's permission to officially bring her and their child into his household as his wife upon his return.Seeing Xue Chengliang's change in expression, Mo Xiuyao smiled in satisfaction and raised his hand, flicking his fingers. Behind him, Qin Feng took out a portrait and unfolded it before Xue Chengliang. Xue Chengliang's already pale face turned deathly white—the people in the portrait were none other than his beloved and his son. Not only were their appearances and clothing identical, but even the courtyard in the background was exactly the same. Xue Chengliang exclaimed in shock, "This is impossible?! How could you—"

Mo Xiuyao's smile was cold and merciless. "This prince indeed did not know that Commander Xue would grace the northwest with your presence. However… I never said I would never return to the capital of Chu. Since that’s the case, it was only natural to thoroughly investigate what kind of people our esteemed emperor keeps by his side." After the incident with Tan Jizhi, Mo Xiuyao had ordered the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity and the shadow guards to conduct a complete sweep of Mo Jingqi's inner circle. Though he couldn’t be certain he had uncovered all of Mo Jingqi’s hidden pieces, the effort had yielded quite a few rewards.

"What do you want?" Xue Chengliang rasped.

Mo Xiuyao stood up. "Commander Xue has been by the emperor’s side since the age of fifteen. You must know a great deal. No need to rush—you can take your time thinking. Within a month at most, I guarantee Commander Xue will be reunited with his family. Then, you can slowly consider what answer to give me." With that, Mo Xiuyao ignored Xue Chengliang, who was tied to a pillar, covered in blood, and contorted with rage, turning to walk out of the cell. Behind him, Xue Chengliang roared, "Mo Xiuyao, don’t you dare harm them!"

"Oh, and Commander Xue, don’t even think of doing something foolish like taking your own life. I have no rule against killing women and children—or perhaps you’d prefer your son to suffer in your place?"

"Mo Xiuyao, may you die a wretched death!" Xue Chengliang stared in terror at the man before him, clad in snow-white robes with hair just as pale, as if he were gazing upon some demonic fiend.

"Die a wretched death?" Mo Xiuyao scoffed lightly. "This prince has already died no fewer than ten times. I do not fear death—but do you, Commander Xue?" Xue Chengliang fell silent. Did he fear death? Of course he did. After enduring countless hardships since childhood, he had finally built a family of his own. How could he not fear death?

Su Zhe awoke five days after Prince De and Prince Yu had departed. Upon hearing from Mo Xiuyao that the two princes had already left with their men, Su Zhe was momentarily stunned. Shaking his head at Mo Xiuyao, he said, "Why must Your Highness go to such lengths?" Mo Xiuyao was silent for a moment before replying, "Elder Su’s health truly cannot withstand the hardships of a long journey. If you insist on returning, you must wait until you have fully recovered. If you are unwilling to stay within Ruyang City, there is an estate outside the city where you may reside temporarily."

Su Zhe sighed but said nothing more. He simply stayed alone in a quiet courtyard within the prince’s mansion to recuperate, reading books and rarely stepping outside. Nor did he inquire further about Su Zuidie’s affairs.When the child was nine months along, news suddenly spread across various nations. It was said that the treasure of the founding emperor of the previous dynasty and the Imperial Jade Seal were located within the northwestern region. The founding emperor of the previous dynasty was an even more legendary figure than the Great Chu's founding emperor. Legends spoke of him possessing the Golden City Treasure, a trove only recorded in unofficial histories. It was said to be a city built entirely of gold, giving a glimpse of just how vast the emperor's wealth must have been. Not to mention the Imperial Jade Seal, which had nobles from all nations scrambling for it. As soon as this news broke, signs of activity from various factions appeared in the northwest, instantly turning the once-peaceful region tense.

Ye Li’s belly had grown considerably larger by now, and after nine months, the child could arrive at any moment. Mo Xiuyao had long since arranged for attendants and midwives to stay in the estate, ready at all times. Moreover, knowing Ye Li’s usual dislike of having strangers attend to her, Mo Xiuyao had specifically sent someone to fetch the servants who had originally served her in the Chu capital. He even transferred Head Steward Mo to the northwest, leaving the affairs of the central plains unattended. Feng Zhiyao cursed repeatedly as he sent word to Leng Haoyu, instructing him to temporarily oversee matters in the central plains.

Qin Feng, who had been sent to fetch the servants, arrived in Ruyang City around the same time as the news of the previous dynasty’s treasure. Mo Xiuyao, who had been accompanying Ye Li for a stroll, turned grim upon receiving the message from Zhuo Jing and said coldly, “Tan Jizhi! You really are in a hurry to die!” Ye Li took the letter, glanced at it, and nudged Mo Xiuyao. “Go handle it quickly. Feng San and the others must be waiting.” Mo Xiuyao sighed softly and said gently, “I’ll be back soon. Don’t overexert yourself.” Ye Li smiled and nodded, watching him leave before turning to the others with a gentle smile. “Nanny, Mama Lin, how have you been?”

The two elderly women were already in tears. Had Mo Xiuyao not been present earlier, they would have rushed to Ye Li’s side and wept. “Miss… Princess… we thought we’d never see you again…” Qing Shuang and the others also gathered around Ye Li, laughing and crying as they spoke, filling the room with lively chatter. Ye Li watched them fondly, realizing it had already been a year since they last met. Though she hadn’t noticed it before, seeing them now made her realize how much she had missed them. Noticing Qing Shuang glaring at her while wiping her tears but refusing to speak, Ye Li reached out and pinched her rosy cheek playfully. “A year apart, and Qing Shuang has grown into a young lady.” Qing Shuang’s face flushed red as she glared fiercely at Ye Li. “Miss is so cruel! Leaving Qing Shuang behind for so long—Qing Shuang won’t speak to you ever again!” Ye Li sighed apologetically. “Silly girl, what’s so good about following me to the northwest? Wasn’t it better for you to stay safely in the capital?”

Although Mo Jingqi had stripped Mo Xiuyao of his title, he hadn’t dared to openly raid Prince Ding's Estate. Still, for safety’s sake, Head Steward Mo had relocated all important items from the estate, including its key personnel. These maids had been under the covert protection of Prince Ding's shadow guards in the capital, which was indeed safer than making the long journey to the northwest. Ye Li hadn’t originally planned to bring them to Ruyang—it was only because Mo Xiuyao had directly sent Qin Feng to fetch them that they had come."Mama Lin, wet nurse, you've both had a long and arduous journey." Looking at the slightly thinner figures of her wet nurse and Mama Lin before her, Ye Li felt even more apologetic. Originally, her wet nurse and Mama Lin had been taken to her second uncle's residence, waiting for the situation to stabilize before being sent back to Yunzhou. Yet now they had been brought all the way to Ruyang, separated from their families, and the harsh climate of the northwest was nothing like that of the capital or Yunzhou. Mama Wei wiped her tears and joyfully examined Ye Li's belly, smiling as she said, "What kind of talk is this, Your Highness? There could be nothing better than serving you and the Little Prince. How could it be arduous? Hearing about all the events you've endured this past year in the capital left us sleepless with worry. It was a pity we were too far away to know anything..." Mama Lin nodded repeatedly, adding, "Indeed, now that we can see Your Highness safely give birth to the Little Prince, this old servant can finally report back to our young lady." The "young lady" Mama Lin referred to was naturally Ye Li's mother, Xu Shi.

Ye Li gently held Mama Lin's hand and said softly, "In that case, I'll have to trouble you and the wet nurse even more in the future. After such a long journey, you must all be exhausted. Rest for a few days before we discuss anything else."

Though reluctant to part, Mama Lin and the wet nurse were indeed no longer young, and the journey had taken a heavy toll on them. They had no choice but to be led away to rest. The younger maids, though also showing signs of fatigue, were in surprisingly high spirits, chattering excitedly around Ye Li with curiosity and joy. It took some effort for Ye Li to calm them down and have them taken to rest as well. As the hall quieted once more, Ye Li turned to Qin Feng, who had been standing to the side, and smiled, "It's been a long time since it's been this lively. I'm really not used to it." Qin Feng smiled faintly and replied, "Your Highness prefers not to be attended to, and those around you dare not disturb you. But these young ladies have been by your side longer and are naturally closer to you." Ye Li nodded, then shifted the conversation to more pressing matters. "On your way back, did you hear any news?"

Qin Feng nodded. "When we approached the northwest, we did hear some rumors. However, since we avoided the main roads, we didn't come across any significant news. The rumors about the treasure of the previous dynasty likely started in the capital, but they didn't originate from there." Ye Li agreed. Qin Feng and his men had traveled swiftly; when he left the capital, there had been no word of such rumors, yet by the time they reached the northwest, the news had spread far and wide. Clearly, it hadn't been disseminated solely from the capital—someone must have been spreading it covertly from multiple locations. With a cold snort, Ye Li said, "His Highness was right. Tan Jizhi is truly in a hurry to meet his doom!"

As if sensing its mother's anger, the baby in Ye Li's belly kicked twice. Frowning slightly, she couldn't help but smile as she soothingly stroked her belly. This child had been lively even in the womb—it was sure to be a mischievous little troublemaker in the future.

Qin Feng hesitated, looking at Ye Li with an unspoken dilemma. Noticing his expression, Ye Li smiled and said, "If there's something on your mind, just say it. Surely Commander Qin isn't feeling shy?" Qin Feng's handsome face flushed slightly, and Ye Li laughed in surprise. "Could it be that I guessed right? Did Commander Qin encounter some romantic luck on this trip?" Qin Feng gave a helpless smile. "Your Highness, please don't tease me. It's just... on the way, I rescued someone and brought them back to Ruyang without your permission. I beg for your punishment.""You saved someone? An old acquaintance, perhaps?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow in question.

Qin Feng nodded. "It was Miss Yao Ji. Does the princess consort still remember her?"

Of course, Ye Li remembered. Steadying herself with a hand on her belly, she asked, "What happened? Tell me from the beginning." Qin Feng then recounted the events in detail.

After picking up Head Steward Mo and his party, Qin Feng had led them off the main roads, traveling day and night to avoid detection. However, in a small town about three hundred li from the capital, they encountered Yao Ji, who was being pursued. Though "pursued" wasn't entirely accurate—Yao Ji had been desperately shielding a child, and the attackers seemed more intent on snatching the child than killing her. It was only after Yao Ji resisted fiercely that they turned violent. Having met Yao Ji a few times before, Qin Feng couldn't stand by and watch, so he drove off the assailants and rescued her.

But Yao Ji's striking beauty made her a target, and with the ongoing chaos of war, she had nowhere safe to go with a child in tow. That was why Qin Feng had brought her back.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "I thought it was something serious. Have you had someone investigate Yao Ji's situation?"

Qin Feng nodded. "The shadow guards looked into it the same day. Nothing suspicious was found."

Ye Li nodded approvingly. "You’ve always been thorough. Since Yao Ji is an old acquaintance, bringing her back was the right thing to do. But have you thought about how to settle her?"

Qin Feng frowned, troubled. He had only focused on rescuing her—arrangements for her future hadn’t crossed his mind.

Ye Li covered her lips with a sleeve, amused. "Given how desperate her situation was when she was being chased, she must have fled in a hurry. Otherwise, someone as capable as her wouldn’t have been in such a state. If she had any money or valuables left, we could simply find her a place and a livelihood in the city. But from what you’ve seen..."

"When I rescued her, her clothes were worn, and she looked gaunt. I doubt she has any funds left," Qin Feng admitted, suddenly understanding. "Thank you for the advice, Princess Consort. I’ll arrange a place for her. I have some savings—I can lend her some for now."

Ye Li nearly smacked his thick skull in exasperation. Rolling her eyes, she said, "How is a lone woman with a child supposed to accept financial help from you, the great Commander Qin? Though she was once a courtesan, now that she has a child, wouldn’t she want to think of the child’s future? Having finally found refuge here, she wouldn’t return to her old profession. What would people say about her reputation?" Unless Qin Feng intended to marry her, it was best not to be overly attentive.

Qin Feng wilted, looking helplessly at Ye Li. Giving money was inappropriate, but not giving money was also a problem. Rescuing someone turned out to be more complicated than going to war!

Ye Li sighed. "Invite Miss Yao Ji over. Perhaps she already has plans of her own." Yao Ji wasn’t some helpless, indecisive noblewoman. Though Ye Li had only met her a few times and didn’t agree with some of her choices, she still admired Yao Ji’s unique qualities.

Qin Feng exhaled in relief. It was good that the princess consort was willing to handle this—he truly had no idea how to settle Yao Ji. "Thank you, Princess Consort."

Author’s Note:

Next chapter, the baby will probably be born~ Looking for name suggestions for Mo Xiaobao~